to him that hath-第4章
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a little choke in the young voice。 〃I see it now〃
〃I think you understand； Patsy； and you are a little brick；〃 said
Captain Jack in a low； hurried tone。 〃And I am going to try。
Anyway； whatever happens； we will be pals。〃
The girl caught his arm tight in her clasped hands and in a low
voice she said； 〃Always and always； Captain Jack； and evermore。〃
And till they drew up at the Rectory door no more was said。
Maitland drove homeward through the mellow autumn evening with a
warmer； kindlier glow in his heart than he had known through all
the dreary weeks that had followed his return from the war。 For
the war had wrought desolation for him in a home once rich in the
things that make life worth while； by taking from it his mother；
whose rare soul qualities had won and held through her life the
love； the passionate； adoring love of her sons； and his twin
brother； the comrade； chum； friend of all his days； with whose life
his own had grown into a complete and ideal unity； deprived of whom
his life was left like a body from whose raw and quivering flesh
one…half had been torn away。
The war had left his life otherwise bruised and maimed in ways
known only to himself。
Returning thus from his soul…devastating experience of war to find
his life desolate and maimed in all that gave it value； he made the
appalling discovery that he was left almost alone of all whom he
had known and loved in past days。 For of his close friends none
were left as before。 For the most part they were lying on one or
other of the five battle fronts of the war。 Others had found
service in other spheres。 Only one was still in his home town；
poor old Phil Amory； Frances' brother； half…blind in his darkened
room； but to bring anything of his own heart burden to that brave
soul seemed sacrilege or worse。 True enough； he was passing
through the new and thrilling experience of making acquaintance
with his father。 But old Grant Maitland was a hard man to know；
and they were too much alike in their reserve and in their poverty
of self…expression to make mutual acquaintance anything but a slow
and in some ways a painful process。
Hence in Maitland's heart there was an almost extravagant gratitude
toward this young generous…hearted girl whose touch had thrilled
his heart and whose voice with its passionate note of loyal and
understanding comradeship still sang like music in his soul；
〃Always and always； Captain Jack； and evermore。〃
〃By Jove； I have got to find some way of playing up to that；〃 he
said aloud； as he turned from the gravelled driveway into the
street。 And in the months that followed he was to find that the
search to which he then committed himself was to call for the
utmost of the powers of soul which were his。
CHAPTER II
THE COST OF SACRIFICE
Perrotte was by all odds the best all…round man in the planing
mill； and for the simple reason that for fifteen years he had
followed the lumber from the raw wood through the various machines
till he knew woods and machines and their ways as no other in the
mill unless it was old Grant Maitland himself。 Fifteen years ago
Perrotte had drifted down from the woods； beating his way on a
lumber train； having left his winter's pay behind him at the verge
of civilisation； with old Joe Barbeau and Joe's 〃chucker out。〃 It
was the 〃chucker out〃 that dragged him out of the 〃snake room〃 and；
all unwitting； had given him a flying start toward a better life。
Perrotte came to Maitland when the season's work was at its height
and every saw and planer were roaring night and day。
〃Want a job？〃 Maitland had shouted over the tearing saw at him。
〃What can you do？〃
〃（H）axe…man me；〃 growled Perrotte； looking up at him； half wistful；
half sullen。
〃See that slab？ Grab it； pile it yonder。 The boards； slide over
the shoot。〃 For these were still primitive days for labor…saving
devices； and men were still the cheapest thing about a mill。
Perrotte grabbed the slab； heaved it down to its pile of waste； the
next board he slid into the shoot； and so continued till noon found
him pale and staggering。
〃What's the matter with you？〃 said Maitland。
〃Nottingme bon；〃 said Perrotte； and； clutching at the door jamb；
hung there gasping。
Maitland's keen blue eyes searched his face。 〃Huh！ When did you
last eat？ Come！ No lying！〃
〃Two day；〃 said Perrotte； fighting for breath and nerve。
〃Here； boy；〃 shouted Maitland to a chore lad slouching by； 〃jump
for that cook house and fetch a cup of coffee； and be quick。〃
The boss' tone injected energy into the gawky lad。 In three
minutes Perrotte was seated on a pile of slabs； drinking a cup of
coffee； in five minutes more he stood up； ready for 〃（h）anny man；
（h）anny ting。〃 But Maitland took him to the cook。
〃Fill this man up；〃 he said； 〃and then show him where to sleep。
And； Perrotte； to…morrow morning at seven you be at the tail of the
saw。〃
〃Oui； by gar！ Perrotte be dere。 And you got one good man TOO…day；
for sure。〃
That was fifteen years ago； and； barring certain 〃jubilations；〃
Perrotte made good his prophecy。 He brought up from the Ottawa his
Irish wife； a clever woman with her tongue but a housekeeper that
scandalised her thrifty； tidy； French…Canadian mother…in…law； and
his two children； a boy and a girl。 Under the supervision of his
boss he made for his family a home and for himself an assured place
in the Blackwater Mills。 His children fell into the hands of a
teacher with a true vocation for his great work and a passion for
young life。 Under his hand the youth of the rapidly growing mill
village were saved from the sordid and soul…debasing influences of
their environment； were led out of the muddy streets and can…strewn
back yards to those far heights where dwell the high gods of poesy
and romance。 From the master； too； they learned to know their own
wonderful woods out of which the near…by farms had been hewn。 Many
a home； too； owed its bookshelf to Alex Day's unobtrusive
suggestions。
The Perrotte children were prepared for High School by the master's
quiet but determined persistence。 To the father he held up the
utilitarian advantages of an education。
〃Your boy is quickwhy should not Tony be a master of men some
day？ Give him a chance to climb。〃
〃Oui； by gar！ Antoine he's smart lee'le feller。 I mak him steeck
on his book； you mak him one big boss on some mill。〃
To the mother the master spoke of social advantages。 The empty…
headed Irish woman who had all the quick wit and cleverness of
tongue characteristic of her race was determined that her girl
Annette should learn to be as stylish as 〃them that tho't
themselves her betters。〃 So the children were kept at school by
their fondly ambitious parents； and the master did the rest。
At the Public School； that greatest of all democratic institutions；
the Perrotte children met the town youth of their own age； giving
and taking on equal terms； sharing common privileges and advantages
and growing into a community solidarity all their own； which in
later years brought its own harvest of mingling joy and bitterness；
but which on the whole made for sound manhood and womanhood。
With the girl Annette one effect of the Public School and its
influences； educational and social； was to reveal to her the depth
of the educational and social pit from which she had been taken。
Her High School training might have fitted her for the teaching
profession and completed her social emancipation but for her vain
and thriftless mother； who； socially ambitious for herself but more
for her handsome； clever children； found herself increasingly
embarrassed for funds。 She lacked the means with which to suitably
adorn herself and her children for the station in life to which she
aspired and for which good clothes were the prime equipment and to
〃eddicate〃 Tony as he deserved。 Hence when Annette had completed
her second year at the High School her mother withdrew her from the
school and its associations and found her a place in the new Fancy
Box Factory； where girls could obtain 〃an illigant and refoined job
with good pay as well。〃
This change in Annette's outlook brought wrathful
